New strategy to effectively prevent component failures in metals
Creep refers to the phenomenon of a solid metal or composite material that undergoes plastic deformation or permanent strain in response to applied stress.
Scientists have discovered that eliminating grain boundaries in materials is a useful way of preventing creep in metals at high temperatures.
Scientists have developed an effective strategy to inhibit the creep of cement paste, and the study shows a promising direction for cement technology.
In his research into grain boundaries, Xiuyan believes it is important to identify a critical grain size. This is because, below this size, the movement of dislocations and grain boundaries are triggered by their interaction
To meet the new creep resistance requirements, the team developed a new alloy that has the best creep resistance of any material tested to date.
Creep is a costly problem for many high-temperature engineering materials and components. Many failures of these materials and components are caused by creep.
Failures in advanced devices cost billions of dollars every year. If they were so important, they wouldn't cost so much to repair or replace.
High demand for more efficient fuels, nuclear reactors, and devices in the chemical industry is expected to continue.
Growing demand for improved high-temperature creep resistance means that there is a growing need to improve the creep resistance of advanced alloys.
The team found that grain boundaries can be used for strengthening alloys at elevated temperatures. It was contrary to the conventional wisdom that these would always weaken the alloys at high temperatures.
Alloys are typically made from two or more metals. Grain boundaries between the different metal elements can cause cracks to form, especially when stress is applied.
In this review, Li et al look at the prospects for stability improvement in next-generation high-temperature engineering materials through the application of interfacial nanostructures in metals and alloys.